John Cyril Hodges
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John was the son of Reverend Edward James and Constance Mary Hodges of Markshall Rectory Coggeshall Essex. He was the brother of Phyllis Hodges and in 1901 the family lived in Lerwick Shetland. By 1911 he was away at school in Camberley.John’s effects of £135 2 s 1d were left to his father Edward James Hodges (Probate 15/3/1917).
At the outbreak of the war he obtained a commission as a second lieutenant on 24th February 1915 He was promoted to lieutenant on 8th August 1916 and served in the Royal Garrison Artillery. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 12th April 1916 and received his Royal Aero Club Aviators certificate on 17th June 1916. He then became an instructor and served at Reading, Beverley and West Bromwich. It was while at flying at the aerodrome at West Bromwich, while practicing looping with his observer Leslie Syson,s that the plane crashed and both were killed. He is buried in St Nicholas and St Peters churchyard, Curdworth near Birmingham.
De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914- 1919 gives the following details : - John Cyril Hodges, Lieutenant, Royal garrison Artillery (Special Reserve ) attached Royal Flying Corps, was the son of the Rev Edward James Hodges B.A. Oxon rector of Marksham near Coggeshall, Essex, formerly rector of St Magnus, Lerwick by his wife Constance Mary daughter of the Rev William Byers, vicar of Greasbrough, near Rotherham, Yorks. Born Lerwick, Shetland 29th August 1897 and was educated at Crondall, Hampshire, Kingswood, Camberely and Worksop College, Nottinghamshire where he was a member of the officer training Corps. He was training for the naval entrance examination but on the outbreak of war he obtained a commission as Second Lieutenant on 24th February 1915, being promoted to Lieutenant on 8th August 1916, then transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 12th April 1916 and received his certificate on 17th June 1916. After which he was an instructor at reading, Beverley and castle Bromwich. He was killed while flying at the aerodrome Castle Bromwich near Birmingham on 17th September 1916 while practising looping with Lieutenant leslie Sysons as observer, his machine collapsed when at the height of 3,000 feet. He is buried in Curdworth Churchyard near Birmingham. His commanding officer wrote ; - " I had selected your son from a number of pupils to remain here an instructor. I had the highest opinion of him as an officer and a gentleman. it will be most difficult to replace him. He was a general favourite in his squadron, they all liked him for his boyish ways, and his pupils had confidence in him as a steady flyer. "
